Characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in drinking water sources of the Douhe Reservoir, Tangshan, northern China: the correlation with bacterial communities and environmental factors

Abstract Background Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) threaten ecological sustainability human health, especially the drinking water sources of Douhe Reservoir, which have critical significance amid their direct use by people hub flora fauna. Although antibiotics ARGs pollution in reservoirs been reported, it is no practical to only study changes (increase or decrease) abundance diversity ARGs, more important explore mechanisms affecting ARGs. Thus, occurrence prevalence characterizations spatial seasonal mobile genetic elements (MGEs) bacterial communities were comprehensively studied present study. Results 263 ARG (nine types ARGs) 51 MGE subtypes detected 56 samples, characteristics temporal distribution MGEs composition significantly different. Moreover, correlation among communities, environmental factors defined, co-occurrence patterns associated with subtypes, genera, between sediment Reservoir Conclusions In summary, ubiquitous presence multidrug, aminoglycoside macrolide–lincosamide–streptogramin B (MLSB) main Bacterial genera [such as temperature (T), nitrate–nitrogen (NO– 3–N), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), phosphorus (TP)] affected pattern Overall, this research revealed spatiotemporal change transmission typical reservoirs, will supply clues ensure safety sources.